Tough backman Tom Cole is excited by the prospect of playing Sunday’s ‘away’ RAC Derby before a huge and largely hostile crowd as the Eagles and Fremantle put their finals ambitions on the line. 

In what looms as one of the biggest derby clashes in years, the Eagles will face an unfamiliar Optus Stadium environment but Cole will relish the atmosphere.

Western Australia is currently in a fortunate position of hosting major events with large crowds, and Cole hoped as many West Coast fans turned up as possible to RAC Derby No.53 to help the team take a step towards September action.

“It’s exciting. Even (on Monday against Melbourne), I’m not sure how many were there but in that fourth quarter we got a bit of momentum the crowd got behind us, it’s just awesome to be a part of,” Cole said.

“Even though it’s Freo’s home game, it’s just nice to have fans at the stadium, and I’m sure there will be a few West Coast fans out there this Sunday.

“I mainly only notice the crowd when they get really loud and get behind us.

“I kind of myself feed off opposition crowds sometimes when they get nice and loud, it motivates you a little bit.

“But it’s always nice just to have them there.”

Sitting in seventh spot, the Eagles still control their destiny and will play finals football for a seventh-consecutive year if they win their last two games, with Brisbane awaiting in round 23.

“You’re always desperate to make finals. Every team wants to play,” Cole said.

“We’re not doom and gloom talking about the potential of missing finals, we’re just excited by the opportunity we have this Sunday to play against Freo, hopefully get a win and keep our chances alive.

“That’s the attitude we’ve got to have for the rest of the year.”

The midfield battle looms large this Sunday, especially in the ruck where All Australian star Nic Naitanui will face emerging Fremantle giant Sean Darcy.

“It will be a good one to watch. They both bring different strengths,” Cole said.

“Sean Darcy is obviously a lot younger than Nic and he’s been in some really good form in the second half of the year, so Nic will have his work cut out for him.

“But it will be a good battle in the midfield in general.

“They’ve got good young mids and our boys will be up for a challenge for sure.

“It’s going to be a fight. We’re both fighting for a spot in the finals, so I’m sure it will be a hot game.

“Derbies are always pretty big games. It’s always a contest, a contested sort of game.

“I’m assuming it will be the same.”

The Dockers will be missing captain Nat Fyfe (shoulder) and Andrew Brayshaw (suspension), but still boast the likes of David Mundy, Caleb Serong and Adam Cerra in their engine room.

Meanwhile, West Coast expects to regain star skipper Luke Shuey from a calf strain to bolster the onball division.

“He brings so many things to our team. Obviously he’s the captain of our club, so that leadership in the midfield and across the whole ground and then his footy stuff inside (midfield), his speed, his skills,” Cole said.

“He’s an all-round player and it’s always nice to have players like that in your team, so hopefully we can get him back.”